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l UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE M. POWELL, OF RIVER FALLS, WISCONSIN, CHARLES D. LINCOLN, OF BIDDEFORD, MAINE, AND G. EVANS, OF RICHBURG, NEW YORK.

IMPROVED CAMP AND HOSPITAL COT.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 39,954, dated September 15, 1863, antedatcd April 11, 1863.

.To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that we, GEORGE MAY POW- ELL, of River Falls, in the county of Pierce and State of Wisconsin, CHARLES D. LIN COLN, of Biddeford, in the county of York and State of Maine, and GURDON EVANS, of Richburg, in the county of Allegany and State of New York, have invented a certain new and Improved Camp and Hospital Cot; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full and exact description of the same, refv erence being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a perspective View of our improved cot. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section of one corner of the same at x :11, Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a vertical section at y y, Fig. 2.

Similar letters of reference indicate correT sponding parts in the several views.

Our said invention relates, first, to means for supporting and stretching the webbing; second, to an improved manner of connecting the stays to the webbing; third, to a device for limiting the expansion of the legs.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use our invention, we will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

A represents a webbing, made of stout'linen or cotton duck, with an open hem, B, at each end for the insertion of a round bar or roller, C, which hem is lapped and stitched to a sufficient width to permit the formation of grommet-holes in the double thickness of the fabric, as hereinafter explained. The ends of the rollers' C are provided with ferrules D, to prevent splitting.

E E are stay-ropes, the ends of which are passed through the rollers C, near each end, formed into spliced rings, and stitched within the lapped portion of the hem B around suitable holes therein, so as to form a grommet, F, near each corner of the webbing. Eylet holes G G are also formed near each edge of the webbing, about one-third of the length from the head of the cot.

H I J represent three pairs of crossed and pivoted legs, the last two of equal lengthand the rst somewhat longer.

K K represent hooks, pins, or stakes of any suitable construction for receiving and holding the stay-ropes E E. The ferrules D are perforated to receive light wire posts L, formed with hooks at top to receive the suspending-cords of a mosquito-netting, M.

N is a locking device consisting of a metal plate interposed between the legs of each pair, with pins projecting horizontally from both sides of it near each end, which pins, engaging in the outer angles of the legs, limit the spreading of the legs, and thus prevent undue strain upon the webbing.

'.Ihe manner of setting up the cot is as follows: The webbing A is laid upon the ground or floor with the stay-ropes E extended and the stakes or hooks K driven in at or near the extremity of each stay-rope. The longest pair of legs are then inserted in the grommetholes at the head end of the webbing, and one pair, J, of the shorter legs in the grommetholes at the foot, the feet of the said legs pointing inward towardthe center. By then drawing the feet of the said legs outward toward the hooks K a powerful straining force is exerted upon the webbing, and it is elevated from the ground and stretched perfectly taut. The intermediate legs, I, are then placed in the position shown, the posts L erected in their sockets, the netting M suspended from the said posts, and the cot is ready for use. lhe weight of the sleeper brings the webbing to a level from the foot to some distance beyond the intermediate legs, I, from whence it gradually rises toward the legs H in such a manner as to afford the most convenient support for the head without the necessity of a pillow. For hospital purposes a second pair of intermediate legs are employed, so as to make the points of support nearly equidistant from head to foot.

To pack the cot for transportation, the legs are taken out, folded together, and all rolled up tightly in the webbing, forminga compact roll of very little bulk or weight.

The above-described apparatus is employed also as an operating-table for surgeons use, for which purpose it is admirably adapted.

vThe invention will be foundto possess great value from its economy and simplicity of construction, its great strength, durability, convenience, and comfort in use, the facility with which it may be set up and taken down, and

1ts unequaled lightness and compact-ness for transportation.

The following is what we claim as new in the above-described invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent: v

l. The combination of the webbing A B, rollers C, stays E, and legs H J, constructed and employed substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. The grommet F, formed upon the ends of the stays E, passed through the rollers C, all as hereinbefore explained.

3. The looking device N, employed in connection with the hinged legs H, I, or Jin manner substantially as and for Athe purposes set forth.

The above specification of our improved camp and hospital eot signed this 6th day of August, 1863.

GEORGE MAY POXELL.

CHAS. D. LINCOLN. GURDON EVANS. itnesses as to Powell and Evans:

OCTAVIUs KNIGHT, CHARLES SMlTH. Vitnesses as to Lincoln:

C. T. JONES, SAM. W. STIVERs. 

